feature feature Discovering Australian Children’s Literature By Dr Belle Alderman AM Director, National Centre for Australian Children’s Literature Inc Design adapted from: Koala Shape Book, (Sydney: John Sands Ltd., 1931), nla.cat-vn4272738 Do you remember your favourite stories from childhood? These are etched into Charlotte Waring Atkinson (Charlotte Barton), A Mother’s Offering to Her Children: By a Lady Long our hearts and minds. We ache to feel again that moment of exhilaration when Resident in New South Wales, (Sydney: George Evans, Bookseller, 1841), nla.cat-vn777812 we found a book we loved. Children today should have that same experience. Please note: images provided by the National Library of Australia are reproduced here with permission. Story Time: Australian Children’s Literature gives us an experience to share across generations with its appeal to all the young at heart. Story Time sharing between adults Early and classic stories and children A Mother’s Offering to Her Children (1841), but high tea as well. The National Library’s The National Library of Australia and the While children’s books are written and Australia’s first book published for children, website details these and other events National Centre for Australian Children’s illustrated for children, adults play an is a unique show stopper. The Story Time celebrating Story Time. Literature have collaborated to create essential role in bringing the two together. copy is even inscribed with its owner’s name Story Time. Opening on 22 August 2019, Story Time offers interactive moments — Charles James — coloured in, proudly the exhibition runs until 9 February 2020. The National Centre for Australian through a series of text panels scattered declaring this book is mine! Through Trove, There is plenty of time for repeat visits, Children’s Literature is offering two ‘white around the exhibition. These provide a brief this early book is easily accessible. Its participation in events and accessing some glove events’ in association with the Story comment in child-oriented language, then storytelling narrative style where children events remotely. With 270 ‘objects’ to Time exhibition. For more details and there is a question. For example, for the and Mrs Saville pose questions and offer explore, it is a good idea to plan for more registration, check the Centre’s website. older child viewing the map of Emily Rodda’s answers is a fascinating example of writing than one visit. Rowan Simpkin offers opportunities to Deltora, the question asked is, ‘Look closely at for children today. be ‘up close’ to Bob Graham’s artwork for the map. What do you think the environments Story Time for adults Max (2000) and A Bus Called Heaven (2011), are like?’ For young people looking at Graeme Travelling through time and various themes There are several events associated with Story revealing how he creates these much- Base’s artwork for The Eleventh Hour (1988), while highlighting particular books, Sharing Time that are aimed at adults. At the National loved books, with opportunities to examine the question is, ‘How many animals can you Stories showcases many much-loved titles Library, these include sessions exploring the preliminary sketches, draft manuscripts, see in this picture? Can you name them?’ like Cole’s Funny Picture Book (Cole [1882]), art of illustration featuring Freya Blackwood, dummy books, proofs and final artworks. A memorable for its spanking machine and Alison Lester and Leigh Hobbs. Hear about second event explores the work of another For young visitors, there is also the other oddities. Norman Lindsay’s The Magic cultural diversity from Shih-Wen Sue Chen as popular creator. Who does not love Leigh ‘Playtime’ room, with opportunities for Pudding (1918) is a special feature due she highlights a range of multicultural picture Hobbs’ characters — the incorrigible Old children to create their own artworks, write to the National Library’s unique formed books that celebrate cultural diversity, while Tom, Fiona the Pig and the travel-weary Mr their own stories and experience some collection by well-known bibliographer, focusing on the relationship between verbal Chicken? Ruth Nitschke will showcase many of the engaging videos produced by Story Marcie Muir. She was particularly partial and visual elements. There is an insider’s items created by this award-winning author/ Box Library. In these, adults read children’s to The Magic Pudding, so here can be found tour with the curator, Grace Blakeley-Carroll, illustrator, with Max Brown discussing the stories in an engaging way with various many different editions which she collected which includes not only the exhibition feast conservation of these artworks. animations of content. over her lifetime. 22 September 2019 ACCESS September 2019 ACCESS 23 feature feature Several popular characters romp through some controversy, reported by the ABC Whatever the appeal, Story Time proudly Australia’s well-known stories. Story Time news. displays a vast array. features Ginger Meggs, Australia’s most popular and longest running comic strip, The May Gibbs items at Story Time also Changing times created in the early 1920s by James C include one of the National Centre for The early years in the development of Bancks. This strip follows the escapades of Australian Children’s Literature best-loved Australian children’s stories featured a red-haired, prepubescent mischief-maker artworks. This is an extremely rare 1915 particular books and much-loved characters. who lives in an inner-suburban, working- preliminary artwork by May Gibbs for her Many of these continue to be available today. class household. Then there is Blinky Bill first Australian-published children’s book, But times do change, moving away from (Wall 1933), an adventurous, good-hearted Gumnut babies: words and pictures (1916). single character dominated stories, to more koala, but invariably in trouble, which Donated to the Centre by Jane Brummitt, complex ones with multiple characters appeared in 1933. There is a universality who is the holder of vast knowledge about facing environmental disasters, slipping of childhood in these characters, ideal for May Gibbs, this artwork and others about through time and discovering fantastical sharing with today’s youth. this artist can be found in the excellent worlds. book documenting the life and pursuits of From everyday adventures to the world of May Gibbs (Holden & Brummitt 2016). For Australian children’s literature blossomed fantasy, Australia’s early children’s books children, Tania McCartney has created a in the mid-20th century. Several authors featured only a few major creators. Ida picture book biography which inspires the emerged around the same time. Novels of Rentoul Outhwaite is a standout, widely young. (McCartney 2018). For those who adventure and fantasy appeared. Picture May Gibbs, Study for Lovers of Music for Gum- collected and occasionally exhibited. Her enjoy the story behind the story, look no books too came on the scene. In the 1960s, world of fairies features in this exhibition, Blossom Babies, 1915, National Centre for further than the journal articles in Behind Australian Children’s Literature, © The Northcott here carefully protected by curtains to avoid Society and the Cerebral Palsy Alliance the Imagined (2018), where Jane Brummitt too much light exposure for her delicate art. talks about her discovery of this 1915 rare artwork and Tania McCartney recounts the Australia’s oldest and most widely read author to have her work ‘merchandised’. inspiration for her book about May Gibbs as story worldwide is the classic Seven Little Her characters and stories have inspired a a child. Australians (Turner 1894). It featured as a vast and continuing array of ephemera or film, BBC and ABC television productions, a merchandise, which continues unabated Collections of ephemera musical, and as radio and stage productions. today. Story Time includes an excellent Many children have favourite toys that are It has never been out of print and appears sample. Look for the collection of handmade their steady companions. Story Time is a in multiple editions and translations. Early miniature calendars featuring May Gibbs’s prime example of how many Australian editions featured gold gilt paper edges, Gumnuts, Forget-me-nots and A Bush children’s stories have been turned into embossed covers tinged with gold — Greeting to You; The Gumnut Game; Gumnut toys or merchandised in various ways. Visit offering examples of fine book making. Babies 750-piece puzzle; a booklet of sticker your local book shop and note the boxed Many of these appear in Story Time, along fun; a Peek-a-Book Sweater; Gumnut Baby characters based on children’s books. Meet with an article by Ethel Turner explaining Badge; Gumnut Babies Fabric by the fabric Mr Pelican from Colin Thiele’s Storm Boy, Mr why (tongue-in-cheek) she wrote this story designer Peter Stripes; a Gumnut Babies Chicken, the irascible character featuring as well as a tantalising manuscript. plate and a collection of Snugglepot and in several of Leigh Hobbs’ picture books, or Cuddlepie toys. Further afield, visitors to the green sheep from Mem Fox and Judy May Gibbs: a merchandised creator Sydney may have noticed that late last year, Horacek’s Where is the Green Sheep? These Another early classic is May Gibbs's a pleasure ferry boat named May Gibbs could stories and others are featured in Story Snugglepot and Cuddlepie (1918). She be seen chugging around Sydney Harbour. Time. What is the attraction of ephemera? Elyne Mitchell, Page One from the Manuscript makes a grand appearance at Story Time. Originally named ‘Ferry McFerryface’, the Does it serve as a reminder of our favourite of The Silver Brumby, c.1958, in Papers of May Gibbs is Australia’s first children’s renaming of this ferry ‘May Gibbs’ caused book characters we once loved as children? Elyne Mitchell, nla.cat-vn186219 24 September 2019 ACCESS September 2019 ACCESS 25 feature feature the first children’s book editors joined Sheep? (2004) That iconic story for the very goal at the Centre is to collect, document Australian publishing houses like Angus & youngest will also be on exhibit, along with and showcase the creative process.